There ’s something rare and special about asuperheroactor that returns after an stretch out leave of absence of absence . Whether their tenure in their roles was beloved or not , there is a certain surge that arrive with view a long - thought - go actor - character friction match - up .

Much to the pleasure of superhero fans everywhere , this has become a common course among major franchise , especially Marvel and DC . With picture show such asSpider - Man : No path Homeand crossing over event such asCrisis on Infinite Earthspopularizing this trend , there are sure actor whose returns deserve special mention .

Anson Mount - Black Bolt

Anson Mount cause the forgetful end of the stick with his casting as Blackagar Boltagon , King Black Bolt , in the shortly - lived ABC Marvel seriesInhumans . The show pass for a meagre eight episode in 2017 and was a concluded fizzle . However , Mount would make a surprise return as afar more funnies - accurate version of Black Boltin 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , five years after the oddment of his ill-famed serial .

Mount ’s return finally did right by both the actor and the character , limn Black Bolt in his classic amusing - exact suit . The cameo conk out a long way in redeeming the Inhumans in fans ' eyes , though it still stay on unclear if the superhuman group will ever be adapted for the MCU proper .

Patrick Stewart - Professor X

Sir Patrick Stewart was the definitive edition of Professor Charles Xavier for year , portraying the character over the course of 17 years in Fox’sX - Menfranchise . After appearing in seven film as Professor X , Stewart ingest his bow in 2017’sLogan , only to pass to the character one last clip inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , depicting one member ofthe badly - fated Illuminati of Earth-838 .

While many devotee might have been hop for confirmation that Stewart would be render as Professor X for the MCU ’s reboot of the X - military personnel , the British actor ’s cameo instead served to base a deeper multiverse within the enfranchisement and , though Earth-838 ’s Xavier died a gruesome dying , there still stay other variants of the character who could appear in future projects .

Tom Welling - Superman

Tom Welling is the Superman for an intact generation , starring as Clark Kent in the long - run CW superhero seriesSmallvillefor ten seasons . When the series finally ended in 2011 , fans thought they ’d seen the last of Welling ’s Superman , only for the actor to make a myopic cameo eight years later on in the 2019 Arrowverse crossover voter eventCrisis on Infinite Earths , alongside Lois Lane actress Erica Durance .

Welling ’s and Durance ’s cameos inCrisis on Infinite Earthsserve as an epilogue to theirSmallvillearcs , revealing a abbreviated snip of Clark and Lois ’s life together after the serial number to an end . And , while their future remain ill-defined following the multiversal reboot at the end of the crossover , fan can rest assured that the two iconic characters got the happy ending they merit .

Andrew Garfield - Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield ’s Spider - Man never truly got his chance to shine in his own enfranchisement of films . asterisk inThe Amazing Spider - ManandThe Amazing Spider - Man 2 in 2012 and 2014 severally , Garfield ’s tenure as the rampart - crawling superhero was cut short when Sony and Marvel Studios made a sight to boot the character for the MCU . however , Garfield would make a jubilant tax return in late 2021 , seven long time later on , in the hitting filmSpider - gentleman’s gentleman : No Way Home .

Garfield ’s return did wonders for fans ' general perception of his stint as Spider - Man , leading many spectator to call for his return in future films . While there have been no official announcements regardingThe Amazing Spider - Man 3 ’s status , many fan have theorized that Garfield could in fact be the Spider - Man of Sony ’s cinematic universe of Marvel characters .

Brandon Routh - Superman

Many fans feel that Brandon Routh was cheated out of the superhero role of a lifetime after Bryan Singer’sSuperman Returnsunderperformed in 2006 . However , the actor continue in the superhero musical genre for some time , portraying Ray Palmer , the Atom , in the Arrowverse for many yr . Routh would get one last shot at Superman during 2019’sCrisis on Infinite Earthsevent , putting on the cape once more 13 age after his initial jaunt .

Routh ’s coming back as Superman turn up to be both cathartic for fan of his take on the case and tragical , as it was revealed that his reading of Lois Lane was murdered by the Joker sometime after the events ofSuperman return . However , thanks to the multiversal meddling of the Arrowverse ’s torpedo , it is implied that this rendering of Superman receive a well-chosen ending after all .

Tobey Maguire - Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire is best known for bring to life one of themost sympathetic version of Spider - Manever put to screen , portraying the character throughout Sam Raimi’sSpider - Mantrilogy , which came to a close in 2007 . After month of fan conjecture , Maguire returned to the role one last clock time inSpider - Man : No Way Home , uniting with Andrew Garfield ’s and Tom Holland ’s versions of the character .

Maguire ’s return ingurgitate buff who had grown up watching his version of Spider - Man . WhileNo manner Homelikely serves as the last meter audience will ever see Maguire ’s superhero , sports fan are simply happy to have seen the brave and experienced version of the character one last time .

Ashley Scott - Huntress

Many superhero buff may not be mindful of the short circuit - livedBirds of Preyseries that ran on the WB from 2002 to 2003 . The 13 - instalment series starred Ashley Scott as the Huntress , a version of the theatrical role that went unseen for 15 class until her surprise cameo in the Arrowverse eventCrisis on Infinite Earths .

Scott ’s cameo inCrisis on Infinite Earthsis relatively brusque , with Huntress discover with repulsion that her existence is about to be destroyed by a moving ridge of anti - topic . While there is little substantial about her appearance , the cameo deepens the traditional knowledge of the crossover event by including even little - known DC properties into the history .

John Wesley Shipp - The Flash

John Wesley Shipp was one of the first actors to ever play Barry Allen in resilient - action , star as the speedy superhero in the dead - survive ' 90s serial publication , The Flash . The show , which concluded after only one season in 1991 , would later on be revisited when Shipp reprised his character in the Arrowverse’sElseworldscrossover , 27 years later .

The Flash ’s cameo inElseworldshelped establish the threat of the Monitor while also setting up the character ’s more substantial return in the landmarkCrisis on Infinite Earthsevent . In this second cameo , Shipp ’s translation of the type would give himself for Grant Gustin ’s Flash , experiencing an emotional death that served as a fitting end for the lineament .

Michael Keaton - Batman

Michael Keaton became the definitive Batman of the late ' 80 and early ' 90s in Tim Burton’sBatman . The thespian would later return for the 1992 sequel , Batman Returns , before hanging up the hood , which would then be passed on to several different actors over the decades . However , 31 geezerhood after his last jaunt as the Caped Crusader , Keaton is confirmed to bring back in 2023’sFlashmovie .

Fans are uneasily awaiting Keaton ’s coming back to his iconic character , uncertain of how precisely he will factor into the plot ofThe Flash . amazingly , Keaton was in reality set to appear earliest inLeslie Grace ’s canceledBatgirlfilm , leave fans to marvel if the thespian has returned to the role permanently .

Burt Ward - Robin

Burt Ward is best known for his iconic portrayal of the Boy Wonder and Batman ’s trusty sidekick Robin in the landmarkBatmanlive - action serial that run from 1966 to 1968 . The actor would return for a abbreviated cameo as his character , who is confirmed to repose on Earth-66 , in the Arrowverse crossover eventCrisis on Infinite Earths .

Ward ’s cameo is relatively myopic , as his role discovers that his world is about to be destroyed by a waving of anti - matter . Nevertheless , he receives a fun callback to his character ’s iconic series of catchphrases , exclaiming in surprise as he sees a wall of red energy approach him .

NEXT:10 burn doubt After She - whale : Attorney At Law ’s Premiere instalment

General Dreykov talking to Natasha in Black Widow

Halle Berry as Catwoman crouching on a fire escape in Catwoman

Nextwave team

Andrew Garfield Spider-Man; Michael Keaton batman; Brandon Routh Superman

An image of Black Bolt with his finger on his lips in Multiverse of Madness

Professor X Doctor Strange 2

Tom Welling as an older Clark Kent in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Peter Parker 3 steps through a portal in Spider-Man No Way Home

Kingdom Come in Superman Costumes

Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man No Way Home

Ashley Scott as Helena Kyle Huntress of Earth-203 Birds of Prey in Crisis on Infinite Earths

The Flash Barry Allen Earth-90 John Wesley Shipp Crisis on Infinite Earths

Tim Burton Batman Game With Michael Keaton Should Happen Now That He Has Returned In The DCEU With Flash

Burt Ward as Dick Grayson on Earth-66 in Crisis on Infinite Earths

Marvel Cinematic Universe